When I bought my 09 Camry, the Sales rep suggested that there is very little maintenance with this vehicle.

While he was very happy with the Dealership service department, I live a ways from the dealer, and he thought it would be perfectly fine to take my Camry to the local Quick Oil Change place.

I did this for the first 5,000 and it went fine other than the fact it looked like the first time they had seen a hybrid.

What are everyone's thoughts on this? Is there something the Toyota Dealer is going to do that a local pit stop won't?

Essentially - I just have to lube, change oil, and rotate tires, correct?

 

The Hybrid components doesn't require any maintenance beyond what you should do on any car.

Battery - ZERO maintenance for the life of the car.
Transaxle - Change the fluid at 50k. Like changing the transmission fluid in any other car - except even easier!
Inverter - The coolant here is rated for 100k. Same as the engine coolant. I would suggest a dealer for this one.

As a bonus - if you are a conservative driver, you probably won't have to change the brakes - ever.

 

I will add to that, the long lasting iridium spark plugs that may be good for up to 100k miles.

Toyota uses a maintenance free valve system using shims. (they are usually good for 200k miles)

 

Prius experts have recommended 3 items above and beyond the Toyota book.

1) Change transaxle fluid at 50k or so. People have done chemical analysis and found that it is usually shot by 50k miles.

2) Remove the spark plugs and put them back in with anti-sieze after a couple of years. The plugs last 100k but sometimes they may be frozen (galled?) by that time.

3) Remove brake caliper pins and lube them every couple of years. Especially if you live in a "salt" climate (near the coast or where they salt the roads).

 

I'd keep a close eye on the tires and alignment.

I've had really bad luck with factory alignments.... of course, even with rotation, you don't know that it is out of whack until you've trashed a set of tires.

 

another perk of the car, less on maintenance is great. especially coming from BMW to it.

 

My two year old TCH has 20k miles on it and I have only had it serviced by Toyota because of just what you said. Jiffylube type places often use youngsters who are not mechanics and just know how to change oil, sometimes poorly. A common complaint of Toyota owners who use these places is oilpan plugs over tightened and stripped. When your Jiffylube guy tries to sell you his Improved-quick-oil-change plug you're a victim. My Toyota dealer only charges me $20+ for an oilchange anyway.

 

From what i can find out, as long as you perform the maintenance required by Toyota you dont run a risk of voiding anything (keep all records).